Alexandre Pantoja Bio
Alexandre Pantoja Passidomo, born on April 16, 1990, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Widely regarded as one of the greatest Flyweights in mixed martial arts history, he holds the UFC Flyweight Championship, a title he captured by defeating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023. Pantoja has since defended the belt four consecutive times while building an eight-fight win streak, and he holds several UFC Flyweight records, including the most wins, most submission victories, and most finishes in the division. He is also the first male UFC flyweight to win a title fight at the age of 35 or older, and he has never been finished by an opponent across his 35-fight professional career.
Competing under the nickname “The Cannibal,” Pantoja has spent his entire professional career at Flyweight, beginning in 2007. He currently trains out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, and continues to represent Brazil on the sport’s biggest stage.
Early Life and Background
Alexandre Pantoja was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the youngest of three children. His mother, Ester Pantoja, was adopted as a child because her biological parents could not afford to raise her, and the family name “Pantoja,” inherited from his mother’s adoptive family, has been carried by Alexandre with pride throughout his career. His childhood included difficult moments following his parents’ separation, after family conflicts led his father to leave home, and he was raised primarily by his mother.
He was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 11 through his stepfather, Moraes, beginning his training at the traditional academy of renowned master Osvaldo Alves in Copacabana. At age 12, he moved with his family to Arraial do Cabo, where he began training with boys his own age for the first time. Despite a promising start, his relationship with his stepfather deteriorated due to alcohol-related issues, which led Pantoja to move to Bahia to live with his father, where he continued training and began teaching jiu-jitsu at just 15 years old while winning his first state title in the discipline.
Back in Arraial do Cabo, Pantoja participated in a jiu-jitsu championship held in a ring, where he first encountered muay thai and began training under master Helbert Reis, collecting several victories in the sport. Because muay thai offered little financial return, with athletes often having to pay to compete, he decided to transition to mixed martial arts, making his professional debut at the age of 17.
Path to Mixed Martial Arts
After transitioning from muay thai to mixed martial arts, Pantoja began his professional career in 2007 at Flyweight and quickly established himself on the Brazilian regional scene. His grappling base, sharpened by years of competitive jiu-jitsu, became the foundation of his fighting style, and he accumulated experience across several promotions before catching the attention of the UFC. He would go on to earn a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a rank that reflects his deep technical roots in the gentle art.
In 2016, Pantoja earned a place on The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions, a season that brought together flyweight champion fighters from organizations around the world, with the winner expected to receive a title shot against Demetrious Johnson. Coached by Henry Cejudo on Team Cejudo, Pantoja was ranked first on his team and defeated Brandon Moreno by submission in the second round of their first fight. He followed that with a unanimous decision victory over Kai Kara-France in the quarterfinals, before being eliminated in the semifinals by Hiromasa Ougikubo. Despite the loss, his performance on the show led directly to a UFC contract.
Alexandre Pantoja Career
Early UFC Career (2017–2018)
Alexandre Pantoja made his promotional debut on January 28, 2017, at UFC on Fox 23, defeating Eric Shelton by split decision. He followed that with a third-round submission win over Neil Seery at UFC Fight Night 113 in July 2017, and then dropped a unanimous decision to Dustin Ortiz at UFC 220 in January 2018. The loss did little to slow his momentum, as he responded with a unanimous decision victory over Brandon Moreno at UFC Fight Night 129 in May 2018, and a first-round rear-naked choke finish of Ulka Sasaki at UFC Fight Night 140 in November 2018.
These early UFC appearances established Pantoja as an active and dangerous competitor in a crowded Flyweight division. His willingness to face a wide range of opponents, combined with his grappling-heavy finishing ability, helped him build a reputation as a fighter who could submit high-level opposition and go the distance with elite strikers when required.
UFC Flyweight Contender (2019–2022)
Pantoja’s contender credentials grew in 2019, beginning with a first-round TKO of Wilson Reis at UFC 236 in April, followed by a hard-fought unanimous decision loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 240 in July, a bout that earned him the Fight of the Night award. He closed the year with a first-round knockout of Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night 165 in December, a performance that brought him his first Performance of the Night bonus.
After a unanimous decision loss to Askar Askarov at UFC Fight Night 172 in July 2020, and a rescheduled bout that saw him defeat Manel Kape by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 184 in February 2021, Pantoja delivered one of the most memorable finishes of his career. At UFC on ESPN 29 in August 2021, he submitted Brandon Royval with a second-round rear-naked choke, earning another Performance of the Night bonus. A planned shot at the UFC Flyweight Title was then derailed by a knee injury. He returned in July 2022 at UFC 277, where he submitted Alex Perez with a first-round neck crank, collecting his third Performance of the Night award and cementing his status as the next title challenger.
UFC Flyweight Champion (2023–Present)
Pantoja captured the UFC Flyweight Championship on July 8, 2023, at UFC 290, defeating former titleholder Brandon Moreno by split decision in their rematch, a victory that also earned him the Fight of the Night award. The win marked the culmination of a long climb through the division and announced him as the new face of UFC Flyweight.
He has since defended the title four times. In his first defense, he defeated Brandon Royval by unanimous decision at UFC 296 in December 2023, before earning a unanimous decision over Steve Erceg at UFC 301 in May 2024. His third defense came on December 7, 2024, at UFC 310, where he submitted promotional newcomer and former Rizin Bantamweight Champion Kai Asakura with a second-round rear-naked choke, earning another Performance of the Night bonus. Most recently, Pantoja submitted Kai Kara-France via third-round rear-naked choke at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, a victory that made him the record holder for most wins, most submission victories, and most finishes in UFC Flyweight division history.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Pantoja’s career are his title-winning performance against Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 and his record-setting submission of Kai Kara-France at UFC 317, which cemented his place in the UFC record books. His four consecutive title defenses, his status as the first male UFC flyweight to win a title fight at 35 or older, and the fact that he has never been finished across 35 professional bouts all stand as defining milestones of his championship run.
Alexandre Pantoja Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Alexandre Pantoja is married and is a father of two sons. After winning the UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 290, he revealed in his post-fight interview that his father had abandoned the family, leaving his mother to raise him and his two brothers alone, and asked his father, looking into the camera, if he was proud of him now. He has spoken openly about the influence of his mother, Ester Pantoja, and his stepfather, Moraes, in introducing him to Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a child.
Today, Pantoja resides in Coconut Creek, Florida, where he trains out of American Top Team, one of the most respected mixed martial arts gyms in the world.
2025 Season Performance
Alexandre Pantoja entered 2025 as the reigning UFC Flyweight Champion, coming off three successful title defenses and an active championship run. His scheduled fourth title defense against Kai Kara-France was originally reported for April 12, 2025, at UFC 314, before being pushed to June 7, 2025, at UFC 316, and ultimately taking place on June 28, 2025, at UFC 317. The bout ended with Pantoja securing a third-round rear-naked choke submission, extending his title-defense streak to four and breaking the UFC Flyweight records for most wins, most submission victories, and most finishes in the division.
As of mid-2025, Pantoja was also ranked No. 5 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, a reflection of his standing among the sport’s elite regardless of weight class. His partnership with American Top Team, combined with his durable championship form and finishing ability, has positioned him as the clear standard-bearer of the Flyweight division.
Looking ahead, Pantoja is scheduled to make his fifth title defense against Joshua Van on December 6, 2025, at UFC 323. With his win streak intact, his record book secured, and another high-profile challenger waiting, Pantoja’s 2025 storyline remains centered on extending his reign and continuing to redefine what is possible for a UFC Flyweight Champion in his mid-30s.